Stuck in Survival Mode Too Long? Pottery Helps You Feel Again
When survival mode becomes your default setting, you forget what it means to simply be. Pottery at The Clay Hole gives you a way back to your own presence.
Maybe you’ve been in constant fight-or-flight. Maybe you’ve powered through loss, caregiving, exhaustion, or trauma. You’ve stayed strong for too long. And now, you’re just... numb. Or wired. Or disconnected from anything soft.
If you’ve been living in survival mode for months, years, or decades—this is for you. You don’t need to be productive. You don’t need to be “working on yourself.” You just need somewhere safe to slow down. And exhale.
Pottery Brings You Back to the Present
Clay is grounding. It gives your nervous system a focus point. The wheel spins. The glaze drips. Your hands move while your mind settles. For many, it’s the first time they’ve felt calm in years.
At The Clay Hole in Draper, Utah, our studio is built for this exact kind of healing. You don’t need to explain what you’ve been through. Just come sit with the clay. Let it meet you where you are.
Why Pottery Supports the Nervous System
Research shows that repetitive, hands-on creative practices reduce cortisol levels and support nervous system regulation (source). Pottery is meditative. Focused. Physical without being overwhelming. It lets you reconnect without re-triggering.
You’re not expected to make anything perfect. Or anything at all. You’re just invited to show up—and breathe.
What You'll Find at The Clay Hole
- A calm, adult-only space with no chaos or overstimulation
- Weekly classes that give you rhythm and safety
- Kind instructors who support without pushing
- No judgment—only clay, community, and comfort
- Cozy areas, snacks, cocoa, coffee, and lots of quiet moments
- A welcoming place to be soft after years of being hard
You’ve survived. Now you get to live. Pottery gives you somewhere to begin that shift—without pressure, performance, or expectation.
Conclusion
If survival mode has been your way of life, pottery may be your way back to yourself. At The Clay Hole, you can sit down, exhale, and remember what it feels like to simply be. You don’t have to fight here. You just get to feel. And that’s where healing begins.
"I didn’t realize how deep in survival mode I was. Pottery didn’t just calm me—it gave me my body and breath back."
— Theo M., Clay Hole Member
FAQs
What if I’m too burned out to interact?
You don’t have to talk, smile, or be “on.” You can sit quietly and just create. No one will rush or judge you.
Will I have enough energy to do pottery?
Yes. Pottery is gentle and goes at your pace. You’re allowed to sit, rest, and only do what feels right.
Is this a safe space for trauma survivors?
Absolutely. Many of our members are healing from difficult life experiences. You’ll find care and calm here.
Written by Dan Pearce, potter, survivor, and founder of The Clay Hole—where people come to rest, create, and remember what life can feel like outside of survival mode.